Improvement in school-desks



M. LANCASTER.

SCHOOL-DESK.

No. 181 689, Patented Aug. 29,1876.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MORRIS LANCASTER, OF RICHMOND, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN SCHOOL-DESKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 181,689, dated August 29, 1876; application filed July 12, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MORRIS LANCASTER, of Richmond, in the county of Wayne and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in School Desks, of which the following is a specification:

This invention relates to certain improvements in that class of school-desks provided with a folding lid, which can be dropped out of the way when desired, and lifted into position when required for use; and my invention consists in the combination, with the foldin g lid, of a stop for holding the lid in position for use, said stop being operated automatically to fasten or release the lid by the movement of the lid, as more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawing, Figure 1 represents an end elevation of my improved desk, and Fig. 2 a sectional view of the same, showing the stop by which the lid is supported.

The letter A represents the standards or end pieces of the desk, which is provided with a book chest or receptacle, B, which is se curely closed by the folding lid 0, when the same is not in use. The lid 0 is secured, as usual, to the arms D D, which are pivoted to the standards A of the desk. Either or both of said standards at the top is provided on its inner side near the top with a recess, E, in which -the pivoted end of the supporting-arm D turns, and to said pivoted portion of the arm is pivoted or otherwise loosely attached a dog or pawl, E, which serves as a stop for the lid. The said pawl sets in the recess E, which is provided with a lip, H, in front, and a shoulder, G, on its lower side, the upper side being curved or inclined, for the purpose to be hereinafter set forth. The dog or pawl F is pivoted in'a recess, I, in the arm D, said arm being provided with a spring or short arm, n, which projects over one side of said recess I, and serves to catch and hold the pawl when the desk-lid is fully elevated, until said lid is dropped, when the pawl is disengaged by coming in contact with the curved upper part of the recess E.

The operation of my invention is as follows: When the lid is in position for use the end of the pawl F rests against the shoulder Gr and supports the lid. To release the pawl the lid is elevated until the end of the pawl is brought upon the lip H, which elevates said pawl until it is caught and held by the springor short arm a. The lid is then lowered, which brings the end of the pawl or dog into contact with the upper curved side of the recess E, releasing it from the spring and allowing it to fall into position to again engage the shoulder G when the lid is elevated to position for use.

I do not claim a desk-lid adapted to be held up by a pawl attached to the standards of the desk, and registering automatically with a stop on the lid, as such is shown and described in an application for Letters Patent filed by me on the 15th day of June, 1876.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The pawl or dog, secured to the swinging lid, and adapted to engage with, or be disengaged from, the stop with which it registers automatically by the movement of the lid upon its hinge or pivot, substantially as described.

2. Thepawl or dog, pivoted to the supporting-arm or other portion of the desk-lid, and in combination with the spring or short arm n, the lip Gr, shoulder H, and curved portion of the recess E, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

MORRIS LANCASTER. Witnesses:

MORRIS P. WRIGHT,

, I. LANoAsTER. 

